Sanwo-Olu Emerges Lagos APC Governorship Candidate

Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State with a total vote of 970,851 as against the incumbent Governor of the state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who scored 72,901.

The result was announced by the State Chairman, Mr Babatunde Balogun, at the party secretariat in Acme, Ikeja, Lagos.

Balogun stated that there was conflicting reports going round the state over the party’s governorship primaries, saying that there was election across the 245 wards of the state.

The Party Chairman added, “The members assembled in the 245 wards to peacefully elect the governorship flagbearer of the party in the 2019 general elections. The people demonstrated their commitment to the party by coming out in large numbers. They do so with enthusiasm and purpose. The APC governorship election was held today, October 2nd, 2018.”

Balogun stressed, “Pursuant to the party’s constitution, it was decided that this primary would be conducted by a direct open system where each voter queues behind his or her preferred candidate.”

He added further, “Not only this option approved by our party rules, it is the option that is most favoured by the people and by those who favour transparency and openness. In deed, this method was used for the just concluded presidential primary, for our primary election in Osun State and for all subsequent primaries conducted by our party. It would seem a most questionable practice for us in Lagos to switch to a different method at the last moment for this one governorship primary. Such a move would be tantamount to electoral malpractice.”

Balogun stressed further that unprecedented numbers of the party have exercised their democratic right and expressed their democratic will.

He added that there had been no significant or material complaints of intimidation or irregularity in the conduct of the election, saying that by all standard the exercise was credible, open and honest.

The party Chairman added that people had rendered their decision and there was no reason to cast aside the sovereign will of the people.

“Those persons who now claim this election did not take place stand in direct opposition to the spirit of democracy and the express will of APC members in Lagos. The party faithful have spoken and it is their voice that is paramount.”

He concluded, “To embark upon any other course would be to betray our members, our state and the core principles of progress and democracy upon which the APC is founded.”